GreatNonprofits News

Reviews for Paws4people, Inc.

Paws4People is a wonderful organization that trains and provides service dogs to children, veterans and others in need. They do this in a very cost effective way by enlisting inmates to train the puppies.

There is also an army of volunteers who have trained their own dogs as social therapy and educational assistance dogs to visit senior living homes as well as schools in the community.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

I was recently privileged enough to visit a federal penitentiary during a "bump" when the young dogs were being matched with several veterans. It was very moving to hear the veterans and the inmates talk about their experiences and see how well the inmates had trained the puppies. I have never before seen dogs obeying written commands, but they demonstrated a 12 week old puppy doing just that after having been in the training program for only two weeks.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

I hope to volunteer my time to help them raise more funds to provide more service dogs to those in need.

Would you volunteer for this group again?

Definitely

For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?

Life-changing

Did the organization use your time wisely?

Very Well

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

Definitely

Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)

I am a huge dog lover and really enjoy meeting other dog lovers who enlist the help of their 4-legged friends to do volunteer work. It's also helped me continue to work on obedience commands with my Lab and stretch his abilities.

How did this volunteer experience make you feel?

I really enjoy visiting the seniors and know there is a huge need to help alleviate loneliness or boredom they may be feeling. Several have said they really miss their pets.
Visiting the federal penitentiary when they matched the dogs with the veterans was truly amazing!

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

The paws4people foundation is an organization operated by volunteers that train service dogs. I believe that the most important aspect of this program is the enhancement in the lives of those who are disabled by using well-trained dogs taught with specific skills. These trained dogs are a companion and assistant, and offer those in need with a better quality of life.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

Above and beyond the experience and knowledge gained as a participant of this program, and having the companionship of a dog, I will always remember the faces of those chosen for private placement when they were with their dogs. Observing these children and adults with disabilities, seeing them interact and respond with their trained Service Dogs and knowing from a first-hand experience how these dogs enrich their lives and brighten their day, all of this is a momentous experience that I will never forget.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

... do everything within my ability to spread the paws4people vision and mission so that thousands more would know and appreciate what is being done to help veterans and children with disabilities.

Would you volunteer for this group again?

Definitely

For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?

Life-changing

Did the organization use your time wisely?

Very Well

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

Definitely

What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?

I wish there was enough funding to compensate those who are working now sixty-plus hours a week to make Kyria's dream a reality.

Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)